WATCH: Health secretary - who has recovered from COVID-19 - says he would 'not yet' feel comfortable in a crowded room

18:17

Hancock confident take-up of future COVID-19 vaccine would be high

The health secretary has said he does not think the government will have to make a future COVID-19 vaccine compulsory.

Matt Hancock made headlines last year - before the coronavirus outbreak - when he said there was a "very strong" case for making it compulsory for school children to be vaccinated.

Asked about this at the daily COVID-19 news conference, he said: "I think the extent of the public's reaction following the lockdown shows we will be able to achieve very, very high levels of vaccination without taking that step."

"We are proceeding on the basis that just such a huge proportion of the population are going to take this up because of the obvious benefits to individuals and their families and their communities and indeed the whole nation, that there will be enormous demand for it as and when the science is safe to proceed."

Mr Hancock warned there was no guarantee that a vaccine would be found.

"We can't assume there will be a vaccine," he said.

"There is no coronavirus vaccine yet for any of the existing coronaviruses and this is uncertain science."

18:14

Labour: Ministers need to work with businesses and unions to ensure workers are 'fully protected'

Shadow business secretary Ed Miliband says: "We share the government's desire for a safe return to work as soon as it is possible.

"The government must work with businesses and trade unions to ensure workers are fully protected.

"Employers have a legal responsibility to protect their staff and others and the government's guidelines must make this clear. This is also in the interests of the majority of businesses who want to do the right thing.

"For workers to feel confident, mandatory risk assessments should be published and there must be a clear mechanism for enforcement.

"This is a big task and we will do all we can to work with the government to get this right."

18:12

WATCH: Health secretary says he is taking part in COVID-19 trial

18:06

Health secretary's antibodies caution

Matt Hancock has said he would "not yet" feel happy being in a crowded room.

The health secretary has recovered from COVID-19 and is taking part in a trial to analyse patients' antibodies.

"I very much hope that the science shows that the people with antibodies, who have tested positive for having antibodies, have a low risk of transmitting the disease and a low risk of catching it - both are important, low risk of catching it to protect me, low risk of transmitting it to protect others," he said.

But Mr Hancock added that "until we know that's the case we can't be sure of it, we can't base a policy decision on it" and he could not be "comfortable" being in a crowd because "that might trigger a rise in the number of infections if the science turns out to be wrong".

18:03

WATCH: Majority of COVID-19 patients have gained antibodies - but not clear if this guarantees immunity

18:02

Tory MP voices lockdown frustration

A Conservative MP has said it is "deeply regrettable" that the coronavirus lockdown restrictions are being reviewed on a day when the Commons is not sitting

Sir Graham Brady said he wanted to see the measures removed "as quickly as possible".

"I hope that as ministers approach the second 21-day review they will do so always with a view to removing restrictions and removing these arbitrary rules and limitations on freedom as quickly as possible," he said.

Sir Graham added: "It will become even more important that we rely on common sense and voluntary cooperation rather than arbitrary rules."

On the over-70s, he said: "We have today the most healthiest, active elderly generation of all time and it would be tragic if government threatened this by trying to extend a so-called lockdown for those judged to be most at risk based on age.

"Why don't we just give them the best information and advice and let them limit their risk themselves?"

17:59

ANALYSIS: The coronavirus antibody conundrum

17:56

NFL scraps London games due to COVID-19

Four American football matches in the capital will not take place later this year due to the coronavirus outbreak.

Wembley and the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium had been due to stage two games each, but the NFL has announced that all its 2020 fixtures will take place in the United States to cut down on travel.

The Jacksonville Jaguars, Miami Dolphins and Atlanta Falcons were among the teams due to travel over for games this year.

NFL UK's managing director Alistair Kirkwood said: "The NFL's London Games have become a major part of the NFL season and the UK sports calendar.

"But the uncertainty in the current sporting landscape and the tremendous amount of long-term travel and planning required to stage successful London games mean this is the sensible decision to make."

NFL games in London have been a consistent feature of the sport's schedule since 2007, when the first London game was held at Wembley.

17:48

Professor Jonathan Van-Tam says the overwhelming majority of patients who have had COVID-19 have gained antibodies.

But the deputy chief medical officer for England says there is no clear answer on whether antibodies guarantee immunity.

"We can't make the science go any faster than how quickly our bodies go in terms of maintaining the antibodies," he said.

"Like everybody else in the world we just have to be patient and cautious until we get those answers."

17:45

Health secretary: No earlier easing of lockdown on Isle of Wight

Matt Hancock says the pilot of the NHS app will not see lockdown measures eased sooner on the Isle of Wight.

"I can reassure you that there aren't any changes to social distancing measures that are proposed as part of this pilot," the health secretary says.

Today's question from the public asks what is being done to ensure people BAME backgrounds are not disproportionately affected by COVID-19 and what is being done to support families of those who have died.

Matt Hancock says the government recognises there has been a "disproportionately high" number of people from BAME backgrounds who have died with COVID-19, particularly in the NHS and social care.

He says the government wants to learn what we can to protect people better, adding that there is already a programme of support for families of NHS workers who have died.

Professor Jonathan Van-Tam, deputy chief medical officer for England, says there is a "slow but consistent decline" in deaths in all settings from COVID-19.

17:15

What the NHS app will look like and how it will work

17:11

WATCH: Health secretary reveals latest coronavirus death figures

17:10

"This trial does not mean the end of social distancing on the Isle of Wight, or anywhere else for that matter," Matt Hancock says.

He ends by saying the message to those living on the Isle of Wight is: "Stay at home, install the app, protect the NHS and save lives."

17:09

Matt Hancock appeals to people living on the Isle of Wight to "embrace" the app with "enthusiasm".

"Please download the app, to protect the NHS and save lives," he says.

17:07

Matt Hancock says the pilot of the contact tracing app on the Isle of Wight will begin tomorrow.

"Where the Isle of Wight goes, Britain will follow."

17:06

Matt Hancock says the UK's testing capacity is now at 108,000.

17:05

Matt Hancock says a total of 28,734 people have now died after contracting COVID-19 in all settings, a rise of 288.

17:04

Matt Hancock says he wants to give details of the government's "test, track and trace" strategy to keep the rate of transmission of COVID-19 down.

Before that, he provides the latest testing figures.

In the 24 hours up to 9am on Monday there were 85,186 tests for COVID-19, and a total of 1,291,591 tests.

17:03

The daily COVID-19 news conference begins.

17:02

Public urged to download NHS contact-tracing app - how it works

The app, which will be tested on the Isle of Wight from this week, is expected to be rolled out nationwide in the next few weeks.

16:54

Government has spent billions in welfare benefits during COVID-19 outbreak, minister tells MPs

The Treasury has spent an estimated additional £6.5bn on welfare benefits during the coronavirus oubtreak, the work and pension secretary has said.

Tory MP Sir Desmond Swayne asked: "What increment in expenditure has the Treasury provided her department since the onset of this coronavirus?"

Therese Coffey replied: "Well our new estimates are being published I believe today or tomorrow so I will refer my honourable friend to that particular element in terms of delegated spend.

"But overall we estimate about £6.5bn increase in welfare benefits for the nation."

16:46

ANALYSIS: Relationship between government and citizens changed by COVID-19 - possibly forever

16:44

Minister: Rough sleepers may have to be put up in hostels or night shelters as lockdown eased

Local Government Secretary Robert Jenrick said he does not want to "lose the opportunity that we have here and see those people drift back onto the streets when the lockdown starts to be eased in due course".

But he said there is a limited capacity of "good quality move-on accommodation" for the more than 5,000 rough sleepers currently being put up in places such as hotels.

He said: "What we will do in the days and weeks ahead is assess what the capacity is in accommodation of that nature, how we can build more capacity at pace, what other accommodation is available on an interim basis, some of which will, I think unfortunately, be more basic, such as hostels and night shelters, simply because there isn't sufficient of the type of accommodation we all want to be available, and then see how we can have a national strategy to try to move as many people as possible into that sort of accommodation and wrap care around them as well, because this is not simply a housing challenge, it's one of mental health and addiction as well."

16:40

Councils could manage demand at tips with number plate entry system - minister

Councils could restrict access to rubbish tips by only allowing cars with particular number plates to visit on a certain given day, a minister has said.

"My view has been that local councils should reopen their waste and recycling sites," Local Government Secretary Robert Jenrick told MPs.

"We all know the pressure that's building up in some people's homes, particularly those people who live in flats and apartments, without very much space, having bin bags and recycling and boxes from deliveries building up is both a challenge in terms of space but also a public health issue that needs to be resolved."

Mr Jenrick said an "orderly reopening" of sites was possible in most parts of the country and guidance was being updated to class a trip to the tip as a "necessary journey".

"There are ways in which councils can manage demand, by asking people to come with different registration plates on their cars or booking appointments and so on," continued.

"There are options available to councils if they are concerned about long queues."

16:27

Furlough scheme now paying 6.3 million workers, says government

Latest figures show the take-up of the initiative designed to save stricken firms from having to lay off workers permanently.

16:17

New Zealand had no new cases on Monday. What has it done right?

The Pacific island nation enforced some of the toughest self-isolation measures in the world when it had only recorded six cases.

16:15

Head of NHS digital unit confident people will embrace tracing app

Matthew Gould, chief executive of NHSX, has said he hopes the public will embrace the tracing app in the same way they have adhered to self-isolation and social distancing measures.

He told the joint Human Rights committee: "What we've seen over the last couple of months is a huge sacrifice by the public.

"Our belief is that that determination to help protect the country and save lives will continue to power people downloading the app and as appropriate follow the advice it gives."

16:11

Councils warn against rushing to rubbish tips as they reopen - and long queues form

Household waste has increased as people clear out their homes during lockdown, while recycling centres have been closed.

Cabinet Office minister Penny Mordaunt made the admission in the Commons earlier.

During Cabinet Office questions, Labour MP Catherine McKinnell said: "Headteachers in my constituency are really struggling to support vulnerable pupils, particularly with free school meal vouchers because the system used by the government's chosen provider Edenred is just not fit for purpose.

"Will the government urgently get a grip on this to ensure that at least our children get fed?"

In response, Ms Mordaunt said: "I know that there have been issues with the voucher system that the Department for Education has been looking at.

"If there are any remaining issues in the honourable lady's constituency, if she would like to flag them with me I will take them up with the DfE."

16:01

Submit your questions for a Q&A with the health secretary on Wednesday

16:00

New online system for care homes to get PPE

A new online system for social care providers to get personal protective equipment will be rolled out to most care homes in the next two to three weeks, MPs have been told.

Robert Jenrick told the Housing, Communities and Local Government committee that system is being piloted in around 1,300 settings, many of which are care homes.

The minister said: "I think that's the right thing to do. We don't want to start the system prematurely until we know it works and that it can deliver a very secure supply of PPE to the care homes on demand.

"That will happen over the next two to three weeks."

15:53

Twitter, Facebook and Google have 'questions to answer' over disinformation

The social media companies have been accused of being "unwilling" to give clear answers on their work to tackle false information.